Learn Chinese with Han Trainer: FAQs

FAQ = Frequently Asked Questions

The following questions in English have reached us during the recent years more than once. Click on a question to obtain the answer which was valid at the time and be aware that while our Chinese learning products are evolving constantly, these answers are not kept up to date.

Our box of Chinese flashcards contains only aprox. half of the lessons contained in our our vocabulary trainer, and therefore only half of the words (aprox. 600). This is due to the heavy quality paper the cards are printed on and to the fact that 1200 cards of that quality wouldn't fit into the box.

However, if you choose to buy our product “Han Trainer Digital Flashcards”, all 1200 words will be included since there’s no space problem at all with these digital learning cards.

Looking forward to your reply and don't hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.

This is usually not a standalone product, but you can order that screensaver as a standalone version via www.hantrainerpro.com/shop. Just order an update for the appropriate edition, tick the "download" box, write "Xxxx Edition Screensaver only" into the "comment" field. After payment, instead of the update, you'll then get a download link for the Screensaver.

"Han Trainer Deluxe" (Theme Edition, for example) is a bundle which consists of 2 software products:
1. The Chinese vocabulary trainer Han Trainer Pro (Theme Edition) - that's the product you can also order separately for 49.- EUR
and
2. Han Trainer Pro Screensaver (Theme Edition) which is only available as part of the "Deluxe" bundles and cannot be purchased separately.

The Han Trainer Pro Screensaver is a Screensaver that supports you in learning Chinese even when you're not actively studying because everytime you get back to your PC, you'll see another one of the 1200+ words of the Theme Edition.

"1 single user licence (each)" means that by purchasing "Han Trainer Deluxe", you get one single user licence for the for the vocabulary trainer and one single user licence for the Screensaver.

As Han Trainer Pro is a Chinese learning software, the pronuciation of all words in Chinese (Mandarin) is available for in all languages, including English.

However, English, German, Spanish or French meanings and translations of the Chinese words have not been recorded as audio files, as it it assumed that a native speaker of English (for example) does not require these.

Currently, there’s no version of Han Trainer Pro or Han Trainer Pocket with traditional characters available. If you’d like to be notified once one becomes available, feel free to subscribe to our newsletter.

Unfortunately, there are many "styles" - users of Pinyin write each syllable (character) as a separate word (lian xi). Others don't seem to have a fixed concept or just rely on their feelings. In all Han Trainer products, we stick to the official guidelines - mostly: "Hanyu Pinyin Cihui guidelines" and Hanyu Pinyin Zhengcifa Jiben Guize (Basic Rules for Hanyu Pinyin Orthography) - which state that

"(...)Structures of two or three syllables that indicate a complete concept are linked:

Apart from (maybe) a "Lonely Planet" book, I don't know any single website that will help you. thatsshanghai.com was helpful for me while I lived in Shanghai, but the rest of the info you'll need is ditributed all over the web-(--> google.com plus a good smartphone with a Chinese mobile Sim card).

Typical questions after purchasing our products

How do I install the full version if I purchased it as a download (Windows)?

Here's what is supposed to happen when you install the download version of Han Trainer Pro (Theme Edition):

1.) You download 2 files: HanTrainerProThemeSetup.exe (aprox. 25-30 MB) and HanTrainerProTheme.exe (aprox. 5 MB) and put them into the same directory
2.) You double-click HanTrainerProThemeSetup.exe
3.) The install dialogue appears.
4.) Click "Next": The "License Agreement" screen appears.
5.) Accept the Agreement and click "Next": The "Installation directory" screen appears.
6.) Don't change the directories. Make sure the the "Create shortcut on desktop" is ticked.
7.) Click "Next"
8.) Click "Install".
9.) Click "Finish"
10.) Han Trainer Pro should now launch. However, the Han Trainer Pro program window might be in the background, so close all other program windows until you see it.
11.) Login and start learning Chinese.

What do I do if the "installation error" windows appears (installation after online download)?

This error only appears on Windows systems. Please replace [Edition] with the Edition you purchased, i.e. "Theme" or "Hsk".

1. If you haven't done so yet, please closw the "installation error" window now.
2. Locate the file "HanTrainerPro[Edition].exe", which you have downloaded after receiving the e-mail that includes the download links.
3. Right-click this file and select "Cut". As a result, the file icon will become transparent.
4. Using the Windows Explorer (respectively the "My computer" icon), open the folder C:\Program files(x 86)\Han Trainer Pro [Edition]. Another file "HanTrainerPro[Edition].exe" should already exist in that folder.
5. Right-click somewhere in that folder and then select "Move here ".
6. Windows will ask you if you want to overwrite the existing file. Please confirm that.
7. After that, close all windows.
8. You can now launch Han Trainer Pro normally via the desktop icon.

If you get stuck during any of these steps, please do let us know and send a screenshot if you can.

To avoid this error in the first place, please make sure to place both files from the download e-mail in the same directory before executing HanTrainer[Edition]Setup.exe.

What do I do if the "installation error" windows appears (installation from CD)?

This error only appears on Windows systems. Please replace [Edition] with the Edition you purchased, i.e. "Theme" or "Hsk".

1. If you haven't done so yet, please closw the "installation error" window now.
2. Insert the CD and locate the file "HanTrainerPro[Edition].exe". You'll find it in the CD's root directory.
3. Right-click this file and select "Copy".
4. Open the folder C:\Program files(x 86)\Han Trainer Pro [Edition]. Another file "HanTrainerPro[Edition].exe" should already exist in that folder.
5. Right-click somewhere in that folder and then select "Insert".
6. Windows will ask you if you want to overwrite the existing file. Please confirm that.
7. After that, close all windows.
8. You can now launch Han Trainer Pro normally via the desktop icon.

If you get stuck during any of these steps, please do let us know and send a screenshot if you can.

The lessons of the HSK edition are very large. Is there any way I can break them down into manageable units of about 30 words?

Yes, you can add units of 30 words from very large lessons (e.g. from the HSK Edition) to your individually composed lessons.

The simplest way to do this is:
1.) Start the lesson that you would like to break up into smaller units (e.g. "HSK Level 1" with 150 words)
2.) Enter the vocabulary list
3.) Switch the vocabulary list view to "all words of this lesson" (you do this by clicking on the button on the left just above the "next page / previous page" buttons)
4.) Above the words "My lessons" in the list header, click on the (1) button with the arrow pointing down. This will add all 15 words that are currently displayed to your self-composed lesson no. 1.
5.) Go to page 2 of the vocabulary list
6.) Above the words "My lessons" in the list header, click on the (1) button with the arrow pointing down again.This will also add all 15 words of this page your self-composed lesson no. 1.
7.) Done. You have now created a small, manageable lesson with 30 words from HSK Level 1.

In the same way, you can add another 30 words (e.g. from pages 3 and 4 of the vocabulary list) to your self-composed lesson 2 and so on. If you need more than 3 individually composed lessons, you can create as many as you like by saving your learning profile and logging on to the program with new user names.

Where is the learning profile stored?

a) Windows

Han Trainer version 4.78 and above:
The learning profile is saved as a text file (extension .dat) in the "Application Data" folder (C:\ProgramData)* of your PC*, more precisely in the subdirectory "HanTrainerProFiles".

In older versions and in the browser based version, Han Trainer's learning profile is not stored in the "Programs" or "My Documents" directory, but inside a so-called "Shared Object", which can be found here:

In this directory, you shoud find at lease one more file with the ending ".sol".

If you want to delete a specific learning profile, just delete the file [YourHanTrainerUsername][Version number].sol.
If you want to delete all other settings (e.g. mother tonge, highscores,...), delete the file gemeinsameDaten430[Version number].sol.

*The folder "AppData" (and other folders) are invisible. Depending on the settings in windows file explorer, they are either displayed as semi-transparent or not at all (Windows default setting).
In order to display "invisible" files as well, you can change this in Extras > Folder options > View > Hidden files.

b) Mac OS X

The learning profile is stored as a so-called "Shared Object" with the file extension ".sol" on your MAC at the following location:

In this folder (or in one of its subfolders), you'll find your learning profile and at least one other file with the extension ".sol".

If you only want to save the learning profile of a specific user, save the file [YourHanTrainerProUserName][Version].sol.

If you want to save all other settings (e.g. program language, recent user names, highscores,...), save the file gemeinsameDaten[version].sol.

*The folder "Library" is a system folder and isn't displayed in Finder by default. In order to display it, richt-click (or apple key + normal mouse click) into your user directory: A context menu will apear. Select "Display Library".

c) Linux

The learning profile will be sored as a so-called "Shared Object" with the extension ".sol" on your Linux device. You can find it here::

[YourUserDirectory]/.macromedia/Flash_Player/#SharedObjects

In this folder (or in one of its subfolders), you'll find your learning profile and at least one other file with the extension ".sol".

If you only want to save the learning profile of a specific user, save the file [YourHanTrainerProUserName][Version].sol.

If you want to save all other settings (e.g. program language, recent user names, highscores,...), save the file gemeinsameDaten[version].sol.

Han Trainer Online Dictionary: is it normal to enter the access code everytime you are looking for a new stroke order animation? I can see it after entering the code, but when I look for another character, I have to enter the code again.

Normally, the Han Trainer Dictionary will try to remember a previously entered access code: Once you enter your access code correctly, you should never have to enter it again (as long as you're using the same computer and the same web browser).

If this fails, your web browser probably does not allow websites to store information (in this case: the access code) on your hard disk. You can usually change this in the data protection / security settings of your web browser. These screenshots might be helpful (scroll down to "Solution 1: Try changing your browser's privacy settings.").

Please note that by changing these settings, you permit other programs or websites to retain user related information for a longer time as well.